ms123456

Microbial Biology: 2nd year graduate student: Honorable Mention: VG/E, E/E, E/E I was surprised I didn't get attacked for a lack of publications (0) and conference talks (only 4 poster presentations), or my GPA from UG 3.54. It seems that my LORs had a big impact on IM. (a pub may have pushed me to being funded section though). All 3 reviewers stated that the letters indicated I was "extraordinary" and "posses all of the qualities to be a successful researcher. It seems if you can get people who really know you, then some IM problems will be overlooked. I think I may have just got nice reviewers whose Es weren't counted as highly as tough reviewer's Es. All of my reviewers wrote paragraphs of information down. I know they sincerely looked at my application unlike some others have indicated in previous years.

@FishNerd. I didn’t realize this until I spent 2 hours on the phone with an old friend from college who is almost done getting her PhD in the same field I am applying to. We worked together for a year and a half. Basically she told me the issues that I would run into with a young professor would not matter for someone with my work ethic. She’s also at the number one ranked school in our field, so she has a lot of connections and insight with academia and industry.

@FishNerd. Yes I am reaching out directly to the professor, because we have been in close contact the entire time. I am turning it down because of what I want my future to look like. This professor is a forest pathologist, and I don’t want to get myself stuck in trees for the rest of my career. He’s a great advisor, and I’m sure I could learn a ton from him. In the end I had to choose what is best for my career. Sure the large stipend in a cheapish area with a top established professor would be great for the short term. The young professor with the new technology and 27k stipend in a more expensive area will give me more paths and options for future career paths. The nature of the research is more flexible and interdisciplinary.

I am about to write an email declining a top university Fellowship with a 31k stipend with a super nice professor that had aggressively recruiting me. I might die inside a bit but I made a decision to go elsewhere. Definitely not an easy task.

Thank goodness other people are out there stressing about the same “good” thing. I have been told I have been nominated for fellowships or awards at all 4 schools I applied to. 2 schools require me to win the funding for admission. The PIs I am interested in wouldn’t be able to support me without them. I kinda hope that one of those schools will not pick me, just so I don’t have to factor all 4 places into my decision. It’s exciting to feel wanted, but I have had many interactions with a bunch of POIs. The courting and interview process has been overwhelming. The decision will not be easy. Between programs, POIs, cost of living, and moving.. there are a lot of variables to consider.

I actually had a cohort for an interview that was all female in a science field. We were all given our own suites, so I wouldn’t say you were the only girl invited quite yet. I have been on 2 visits. Both getting my own room. It depends on the program and the money they have. Even within the same school some programs were stuffing people in one room, and we had a whole kitchenette and a king bed in the same hotel as them.

No, I applied for plant pathology. One professor has been aggressively recruiting me. My background aligns well with his. Apparently there was stuff in my letters of recommendation that he really liked. He’s a great professor. Accepted early, because he is forwarding my application for a couple of fellowships. It’s dependent on whether I can get awarded the funding.

Well I was actually driving listening to an old this American life podcast titled, “how I got into college.” I saw my email pop up from the school, but I figured it was about plane tickets, since they were flying me down to visit. I waited until I got home and read the email. I was shocked. My eyes filled with tears and I looked at my husband and said, “They admitted me.” We hugged. I drank a beer and called my mom. It made the planned visit a lot less stressful.

I have been invited to the interview weekend for Penn State. I got that email on 1/10/18 from the department head. I have gotten official acceptance from Ohio State and unofficial acceptance from a professor at Colorado State. good luck.

Yea. It’s driving me crazy. Then if I talk to my mom about any of the programs, she will say, “oh looks like you are leaning towards *insert program here*” Ugh! No, stop analyzing my random conversations. Lol

Is anybody else getting the, “what school do you want the most?” Type of questions from family when you honestly won’t know until offers come and you see what projects are available? It’s driving me crazy. I don’t know. Lol

I am a first generation college student. Neither of my parents even graduated high school. When I applied to undergrad it took 3 application tries before I got accepted to my undergrad institution. Therefore this whole process has a sore spot in my mind. I applied to only 4 schools. I expected a couple of out right rejections. Well at this point I have had 7 interviews, and 3 schools are flying me to see them. I’m a bit overwhelmed with this process. I work 6 days a week 60 hour weeks between two jobs. I am always worked up and having quite some trouble sleeping. While I know the interviews and meet and greets are good signs, I do not know how people do this when they have applied to 10+ schools.

For any wondering the outcome of this minor confusion I went through, the in person interview was an all day event. I sat through a talk, had coffee with the professor, and went out to eat with a few professors and grad students. I was told that the position is mine if I want it. After officially submitting the applications, I have been contacted for more interviews, I assume some professors just prefer to make contact at different times. These professors were from a hand full of universities and even between each department I was contacted before and after completion of the application process. It seems it depends on the professor’s preference and availability, and the program’s flexibility.

I have had a few professors reach out to me after initially inquiring about their research and lab availability. I attached my CV, and if they requested I sent them my transcript. One of the professors responded with his research proposals and a bunch of information. He requested I read the information then we could Skype. I didn't know what to expect, but I was prepared for an interview. The session lasted two hours. A lot of it was just chatting. It seemed to go really well. The next morning he sent me a few articles about topics we discussed. I don't want to get overly excited, because from the start he has been my first choice professor. He talked about meeting me on campus for the invitation only weekend (one I haven't been invited to formally). The next interview lasted 30 minutes. It was awkward, and the conversation didn't flow well. I only loosened up when we started talking about the pure science. I felt really bad after. Then a few days later, the professor contacted me telling me he was going to forward my application to be considered for a new fellowship the department got funding for regarding the topic I am interested in. Reminder my application isn't fully submitted. I am waiting on one professor to send in a LOR. I have an in person meeting that was requested by another professor at a school that I haven't even paid for the application yet. I am applying for Biological science PhD programs. Is this a normal application process? Should I take these interactions with a grain of salt?

I started off my personal statement with a quote from a book I read that resonated with me regarding my passion for wanting to attend a graduate program. I figured this kind of analysis is not frequent in science PhD programs. It also got to show off my vocabulary and creative mind. I have been told by advisors that natural writing skills are hard to come by in the sciences. I tend to get wordy, so I had my friend who has a history degree harshly critique it. I tried to keep it concise and unique while stating my goals. I then spent two paragraphs speaking about my experiences and academic achievements. I had another friend critique how I was portraying myself in these paragraphs. She has a science graduate degree. I finally finished with two paragraphs tailored to each school and the professors I have spoke with. I used the first 3 paragraphs for all of the schools and just changed the last two keeping it manageable to individualize the applications. I don't know if this will help me at all, but it was worth the effort since I am spending a ton on application fees. I am applying for Biology programs. I don't know if this kind of freedom in the SOP is normal in other areas.